UPDATE: 50 cows killed in Thorold barn fire

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Around 50 cows were killed in a massive blaze that consumed a barn on a Thorold farm Saturday afternoon.

Thorold fire chief Michael Seth said the fire caused around $1 million in damage at the Yungblut Lane farm, and the office of the Ontario Fire Marshal was notified.

"We'll be in touch with them again in the morning," said Seth, who expected firefighters to remain on scene through the night Saturday. "We'll be back there tomorrow because we expect there will be significant hot spots to deal with."

Multiple 9-11 calls were made about the fire shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday. By the time firefighters arrived, the barn located near the intersection of Kottmeier Road was already engulfed in flame.

The fire sent a plume of thick black smoke into the sky that could be seen as far away as the Pen Centre in St. Catharines.

Seth said steel beams in the structure of the barn were glowing from the intensity of the heat, creating additional risks for firefighters.

Seth contacted Box 43, a Hamilton-based volunteer group that provides a canteen and rehab services to firefighters. The group provided the crews with some relief from the scorching heat.

At one point, one side of the barn collapsed, causing an eruption of flame to shoot into the sky.

Seth said the intensity of the fire meant crews had little chance of saving the barn. Instead, they focused on protecting other nearby structures, including the farm house, from catching on fire.

There were some 70 cows in the barn at the time of the fire. Firefighters were able to get around 20 of them to safety, Seth said.

The rest died in the fire, and cows could be heard screaming as the blaze consumed the barn.

Tanker trucks from the Thorold and Pelham fire department were constantly coming and going, bringing extra water to the scene.

Along with the barn, Seth said nearby silos and a large pile of hay also caught fire.

No people were reported hurt as a result of the blaze.

Along with the fire marshal, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Minister of Agricultural and the Niagara Region were notified, Seth said.

At print time, no cause of the fire had been determined.

"We probably won't know that for some time yet," he said. "We're bringing in some heavy equipment to start moving some of the debris so an investigation can begin."